TANCET 2026 cutoff for SC and ST category starts at 40 marks out of 100, which is the minimum TANCET score required for SC and ST students to appear in the ME admission rank list under TANCA counselling in Tamil Nadu.
Anna University conducts TANCET annually and releases the official cutoff after counselling concludes. For SC and ST students, eligibility for ME admission rests on two separate thresholds: a minimum TANCET score and a minimum percentage in the qualifying undergraduate degree. The actual closing score at which seats fill up at specific colleges is higher than the qualifying minimum and varies by college tier, branch, and the number of qualified applicants that year.
- SC and ST minimum qualifying TANCET score: 40 marks out of 100
- General (OC) category minimum qualifying TANCET score: 50 marks out of 100
- SC and ST minimum qualifying degree percentage: 45% in BE/BTech (versus 50% for General)
- Seat reservation: 15% for SC/SCA and 1% for ST of total ME seats
- Expected SC score range for admission at premier government colleges (2026): 38 to 48 marks
- Expected ST score range for admission at mid-tier colleges (2026): 19 to 32 marks
| Direct Link to TANCET 2026 Official Website — Anna University (Official) |
TANCET 2026 SC and ST Qualifying Criteria for ME Admission
To participate in TANCA counselling for ME admission, SC and ST students must clear two eligibility thresholds set by Anna University. The first is a minimum percentage in their qualifying undergraduate engineering degree. The second is a minimum score in the TANCET exam. Both conditions must be met simultaneously — satisfying one alone does not make a student eligible for the rank list.
| Category | Minimum TANCET Score (Out of 100) | Minimum Qualifying Degree Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| OC (General) | 50 marks | 50% |
| BC / BCM | 45 marks | 45% |
| MBC / DNC | 45 marks | 45% |
| SC / SCA | 40 marks | 45% |
| ST | 40 marks | 45% |
Students who meet both thresholds receive a normalised TANCET score. Anna University normalises ME scores across different discipline papers to account for paper-to-paper difficulty variation. Meeting the qualifying cutoff is just the starting point — the final admission cutoff at each college is determined by how many qualified students compete for the reserved seats in that branch.
TANCET 2025 Cutoff for SC and ST Category
TANCET 2025 closing cutoffs show that SC and ST students secured ME seats across Tamil Nadu at scores considerably lower than the General category, supported by reserved seat quotas and a lower qualifying threshold. SC category students at most government and aided colleges were admitted with scores between 25 and 45 marks, while ST category cutoffs were lower due to fewer applicants for the reserved 1% seats.
| College Tier | SC / SCA Cutoff Range (2025) | ST Cutoff Range (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Premier Government Autonomous Colleges (CEG, MIT Chrompet) | 38–45 marks | 30–38 marks |
| Government Engineering Colleges (Tier 2) | 28–40 marks | 22–32 marks |
| Government-Aided Private Colleges | 22–35 marks | 19–28 marks |
| Self-Financing Colleges | 20–30 marks | 17–25 marks |
Branch demand plays a significant role in the closing score. ME Computer Science and Engineering, ME VLSI Design, and ME Structural Engineering consistently show higher SC and ST cutoffs than branches like ME Applied Mechanics or ME Environmental Engineering at the same college. The above ranges are based on 2025 TANCA counselling trends and cover most branch combinations.
Expected TANCET 2026 Cutoff for SC and ST by College Tier
Based on the 2025 closing scores and the likely applicant pool for the 2026 cycle, the expected TANCET 2026 cutoff for SC and ST students is set out below. SC category students aiming at CEG or MIT Chrompet should target scores above 40 marks to remain competitive, while ST students can secure seats at many government colleges with scores in the low 20s to low 30s.
| Category | College Type | Expected Cutoff Range (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| SC / SCA | Premier Government (CEG, MIT) | 38–48 marks |
| SC / SCA | Other Government and Aided Colleges | 25–40 marks |
| SC / SCA | Self-Financing Colleges | 20–32 marks |
| ST | Premier Government (CEG, MIT) | 30–40 marks |
| ST | Other Government and Aided Colleges | 19–32 marks |
| ST | Self-Financing Colleges | 15–25 marks |
These figures are expected based on 2025 trends. The official TANCET 2026 cutoff for SC and ST category will be published by Anna University at tancet.annauniv.edu after all TANCA counselling rounds conclude.
Factors Affecting TANCET 2026 SC and ST Cutoff
Understanding what drives the SC and ST cutoff helps you make smarter choices during TANCA counselling. These are the main variables Anna University and the counselling authority cannot control in advance, which is why cutoffs shift year to year.
- Number of SC and ST applicants: More qualified SC and ST students competing for the same reserved seats pushes the closing score upward at every college tier.
- Reserved seat count per college: Tamil Nadu mandates 15% of ME seats for SC and SCA and 1% for ST. A college with more total seats has a larger reserved quota, which generally lowers the closing cutoff.
- TANCET 2026 paper difficulty: A harder paper reduces average scores across all categories, which typically lowers the admission cutoff for SC and ST students alongside the General category.
- Branch demand: Popular branches such as ME Computer Science and Engineering, ME VLSI Design, and ME Power Electronics attract more applicants and have higher SC and ST closing cutoffs than low-demand branches at the same college.
- Normalised score calculation: TANCET ME scores are normalised across discipline-specific papers to account for variation in paper difficulty. Your rank in the list depends on the normalised score, not the raw score.
- Yield from previous rounds: If many top-ranked SC and ST students accept seats in the first counselling round, fewer seats carry over to later rounds, making the cutoff in later rounds higher or lower depending on the demand pattern.
TANCET 2026 SC and ST Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the minimum TANCET 2026 score for SC and ST category to qualify for ME admission?
Ans. SC and ST category students need a minimum of 40 marks out of 100 in TANCET 2026 to appear in the ME admission rank list. They must also have scored at least 45% in their qualifying BE or BTech degree. Both conditions must be satisfied to be eligible for TANCA counselling.
Ques. Is there a difference between the qualifying cutoff and the admission cutoff for SC and ST students?
Ans. Yes. The qualifying cutoff (40 marks for SC and ST) is the minimum TANCET score needed to enter the rank list. The admission cutoff is the actual closing score at which seats fill during counselling for a specific college and branch. At premier colleges like CEG and MIT, the admission cutoff for SC and ST students is typically well above 40 marks.
Ques. What is the expected TANCET 2026 cutoff for SC category at government colleges?
Ans. Based on 2025 trends, SC category students can expect admission cutoffs in the range of 25 to 40 marks at most government and aided colleges, and 38 to 48 marks at premier government colleges like CEG and MIT Chrompet. These are expected figures; the official cutoff will be available after counselling is complete.
Ques. How many ME seats are reserved for SC and ST students in Tamil Nadu?
Ans. Tamil Nadu reserves 15% of total ME seats for SC and SCA students and 1% for ST students across all government, government-aided, and participating self-financing colleges under TANCA counselling. The actual number of seats varies by college and total intake.
Ques. Where can I check the official TANCET 2026 cutoff for SC and ST category?
Ans. The official TANCET 2026 cutoff for SC and ST category will be published on the Anna University official portal at tancet.annauniv.edu after all rounds of TANCA counselling are completed. You can also check the TANCA official portal for round-wise closing rank and score data.
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